Magnetic can opener



A ril 8, 1952 H. GLOVINSKY 2,592,272

MAGNETIC CAN OPENER Filed March 20, 1950 Illlllllllllllll WNW M w HarryGlow'nsky INVENTOR.

BY QM WWW 3M Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

MAGNETIC CAN OPENER Harry Glovinsky, Utica, N. Y. Application March 20,1950, Serial No. 150,786

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in canopeners and more particularly to a magnet attached to the can opener toattract and hold metal splinters caused by the action of opening a canand to prevent the splinters or metal particles from falling into thecontents of the can.

An important objectof invention is to provide means for holding apermanent magnet on the back of a can opener and with the ends of themagnet positioned at opposite sides of the cutter of the opener and heldin close proximity to the can to attract and hold metal particles whichmight be broken off during the can opening operation.

- A still further object is to provide spring means exerting tension onthe magnet to provide a forward and backward rocking movement thereof onthe can opener at its cutting edge to maintain the magnet in closeproximity to the top of the can during the rocking movement of the canopener in its cutting action.

A still further object is to provide a magnet which is adaptable to acan opener without necessitating any changes or alterations in theconstruction thereof and embodying simple and practical attaching meansfor the magnet to insure it efficient operation.

A still further object is to provide an attachment of this characterwhich is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on a line 3-3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the housing or cover for the magnet;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the slide for the magnet, and;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the magnet with the cover or housingthereon.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates the can opener generally and which is of aconventional type including a handle 6, a shank I of strap metalconstruction, a cutter B, a forwardly projecting guide 9 and front andrear metal loops I0 and II rising from the back of the shank at itsfront end and constructed in the usual mannner to provide a jar capprying or removing tool. All of the elements referred to above form partof the usual type of can opener.

The present invention comprises a hollow slide I2'mounted on shank I andbehind which is positioned a coil spring I3 with the rear end of thespring abutting the front end of handle 6 and with the front end of thespring abutting the rear end of slide I2. Slide I2 is formedat its frontend with a pair of forwardly extending diverging .arms I4 havinginwardly extending shoulders I5 at the front ends of the arms andterminating at the inner ends of the shoulder in forwardly projectinglugs I6 and with the lugs of the pair of arms I4 opposed to each otherand positioned at opposite sides of the shank '1 above cutter 8. Theupper edge of slide I2 is formed witha forwardly projecting arm II.

A horseshoe type permanent magnet I8 is mounted in a straddling positionon the upper edge of shank I between front and rear loops I0 and I I andwith the lugs I6 positioned against the inner edges of sides or legs ofthe magnet and with shoulders I5 bearing against the rear of thevmagnet.

The top of the magnet is enclosed in a cover or housing I9 having aninsulation and cushioning lining 20 and a pin orv stem 2| rises from thetop of cover I9 and which projects through a metal strap or tie 22having its front end inserted through front loop I0 and formed with aclip or hook 23 engaging the front edge of the front loop to hold thestrap therein and having the rear end of the strap 22 inserted throughthe rear loop II and also formed with a clip or hook 24 engaging therear edge of loop I I to hold the strap therein. The front end of arm I!of slide I2 projects through rear loop II to abut the rear side of thehousing I9 for the magnet.

In the operation of the device, magnet I8 is placed over shank I forrocking movementthereon between front and rear loops I 0 and II of thecan opener, the magnet being held in position by metal strap or tie 22anchored to the loops, spring I3 forces slide I2 forwardly to holdshoulders I5 and upper arm I1 against the rear side of the magnet.

As the cutter 8 cuts the top of a can the lower ends of magnet I8 ridealong the can at opposite sides of the cutter to attract and hold looseparticles of metal and during the rocking motion of the can opener inits progressive cutting action magnet I3 engages the can and is forcedrearwardly on shank 1 against the tension of spring l3 which thenreturns the magnet forwardly to always hold the magnet closely at thepoint at which the can is being cut.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

, 1. A magnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination ofa tool shank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoetype magnet rockably supported in a straddling position on the shankwith its ends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movablerearwardly by contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of thecutter, and spring means holding the magnetin a forward position. 2. ,Amagnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination of a toolshank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoe typemagnet rockably supported in a straddling position on the shank with itsends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movable rearwardlyby contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of the cutter, aslide on the shank behind the magnet, and spring means holding the slideforwardly against the magnet to return the magnet to a forward position.

3. A magnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination of atool shank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoe typemagnet rockably supported in a straddling position .on the shank withits ends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movablerearwardly by contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of thecutter, means holding the magnet on the shank, a slide on the shankbehind the magnet, and spring means holding the slide against the rearof the magnet to return the magnet to a forward position.

4. A magnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination of atool shank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoe typemagnet rockably supported in a straddling position on the shank with itsends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movable rearwardlyby contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of the cutter, ametal strap anchored at its ends to the can opener and holdin the magneton the shank, a slide on the shank behind the magnet, and spring meansholding the slide against the rear of the magnet to return the magnet toa forward position.

5. A magnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination of atool shank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoe typemagnet rockably supported in a straddling position on the shank with itsends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movable rearwardlyby contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of the cutter,means anchored to the shank and engaging the top of the magnet to holdthe magnet on the shank, a slide on the shank and including forwardlyprojecting arms engaging the lower ends of the magnet, and spring meansholding the slide forwardly and returning the lower ends of the magnetto their forwardposition.

6. A magnetic attachment for can openers comprising the combination of atool shank having a cutter at its front end, a permanent horseshoe typemagnet rockably supported in a straddling position on the shank with itsends positioned at opposite sides of the cutter and movable rearwardlyby contact of the magnet with a can during actuation of the cutter,means anchored to the shank and engaging the top of the magnet to holdthe magnet on the shank, a slide on the shank and including forwardlyprojecting arms engaging the lower ends of the magnet, opposed lugs onthe arms engaging the inner edges of the lower ends of the magnet tohold the magnet from lateral swinging movement, and spring means holdingthe slide forwardly and returning the lower ends of the magnet to theirforward position.

HARRY GLOVINSKY.

.No references cited.

